Sports Taekwondo Australia has released a national competition schedule for Poomsae and sparring running from May through the Oceania Championships in December. Also included in the schedule is a series of OTU/STA Referee and Judging seminars to be conducted in conjunction with STA State Open tournaments.
The 2010 STA calendar, announced by STA Director of Events Warren Hansen, comprises:
May 1 – OTU/STA Referee Seminar, Australian Institute of Sports Netball & Basketball Hall, Canberra, ACT
May 2 – ACT Junior and Senior Open Championships, Australian Institute of Sports Netball & Basketball Hall, Canberra, ACT
June 6 – WTF World Cup Team Selection Trials, Australian Institute of Sports Netball & Basketball Hall, Canberra, ACT
July 10 – OTU/STA Referee/Poomsae Judging Seminar, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Homebush, NSW
July 11 – NSW Junior & Senior Open Championships, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Homebush, NSW
July 24 – OTU/STA Referee Seminar, State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne, VIC
July 24 – WTF World Poomsae Championships Selection Trials, State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne, VIC
July 25 – Victoria Junior & Senior Open Championships, State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne, VIC
August 7 – OTU/STA Referee/Poomsae Judging Seminar, Altone Park Leisure Centre, Beechboro (Perth), WA
August 8 – Western Australia Junior & Senior Open Championships, Altone Park Leisure Centre, Beechboro (Perth), WA
August 21 – OTU/STA Referee/Poomsae Judging Seminar, Logan Metro Indoor Sports Stadium, Logan, QLD
August 22 – Queensland Junior & Senior Open Championships, Logan Metro Indoor Sports Stadium, Logan, QLD
September 24 – STA Sparring & Poomsae Selections Trials for Oceania Championships, State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne, VIC
September 26 – STA National Sparring & Poomsae Championships, State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne, VIC
November 29 – December 2 – WTF International Referee Course and IR Refresher Seminar, Noumea, New Caledonia
December 4-5 – 2010 Oceania Taekwondo Championships, Noumea, New Caledonia
“After much work, our STA National Events Committee, chaired by Warren Hansen, has secured some of the top sporting venues in Australia for these events,” notes STA Chairman Steven Howard. “We are particularly excited about holding the Queensland Junior & Senior Open Championships in the new $17 million Logan Metro Indoor Sports Stadium located in the heart of Crestmead in Logan City, which is centrally located between Brisbane and the Central Gold Coast.”
In what should be an exciting weekend of sports festivities, the STA Selections Trials for the Oceania Championships, and the STA National Sparring & Poomsae Championships, will be held in Melbourne over the AFL Grand Final weekend. “Our events will be held on Friday and Sunday that weekend, giving athletes, coaches and families an opportunity to enjoy the festivities and excitement of AFL Grand Final Day in Melbourne on Saturday,” comments STA Director of Events Warren Hansen. “Plus, for those interested, they may even be able to take in the game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.”
“We are also pleased to announce,” adds STA Chairman Howard, “that all STA sparring events will include Para-Taekwondo athletes. We feel this is an important step in making Taekwondo an all-inclusive sport for all Australian athletes, of whatever capabilities or limitations.”
In addition to the above schedule, STA is also currently making arrangements for Junior & Senior Open Championships in both South Australia and Tasmania. Announcements on these events will be made as soon as the details of dates and venues for each event are confirmed.
“It is important for all athletes and coaches to note that the STA Board is considering a policy, to take effect with the Selection Trials for the Oceania Championships and the STA National Championships in October, that all athletes entering STA selection events or the STA National Championships must first have competed in their respective STA State Open Championships,” states STA Director of Sports Daniel Trenton. “The previous policy of opening the STA selection events to all athletes will likely no longer apply.”
Details on the OTU/STA Referee and Poomsae Judging Seminars will be distributed in due course. “By conducting these seminars across Australia, STA aims to upgrade the standard of referees and judges to a consistent level across the country,” explains STA Chairman Howard. “We will have OTU Certified Instructors conducting these seminars in each locale, bringing the latest techniques, rules and interpretations from the WTF.”
Regards,
Steven Howard
Chairman
Sports Taekwondo Australia
Athletes First